MV Mary the Queen

Mona's Queen at Stranraer in 1987
Career
Name:	1972: Mona's Queen (V) 1995: Mary the Queen
Owner:	1972: IOMSPCo. 1995: M.B.R.S. Lines, Manila, Philippines[1]
Port of registry:	Douglas (1972–1995) Manila (1995–2008)
Builder:	Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon[2]
Cost:	£2,100,000
Yard number:	533[2]
Launched:	22 December 1971[1]
In service:	June 1972
Identification:	IMO number: 7127493;[2] Callsign: DUA2616
Fate:	2008: broken-up Alang[2]
General characteristics
Class and type:	Passenger ferry
Tonnage:	2,998 GRT; 540 DWT
Length:	322 ft (98 m)
Beam:	52 ft (16 m)
Depth:	17.5 ft (5.3 m)
Installed power:	2x 10-cylinder P.C.2 Crossley Pielstick[3] diesel engines (10,000 bhp)
Propulsion:	variable pitch propellers
Speed:	21 kn
Capacity:	1600 passengers and approximately 100 vehicles
Crew:	55

Mary the Queen was a ferry in south-east Asia, mainly sailing between Manila and Boracay. Built in 1971 as Mona's Queen (V), between 1972 and 1990 she was operated by the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company from Douglas, Isle of Man.

History

Mona's Queen was built in 1972, by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company at Troon, Scotland, the third of four car ferries constructed for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company. The four were Manx Maid (II); Ben-my-Chree (V), Mona's Queen (V) and Lady of Mann (II). Mona's Queen was the first diesel engined ferry in the fleet. Launched at Troon during Christmas week 1971, she made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Douglas on 9 June 1972,^[1] just missing the peak traffic of TT week.

In December 1995, after a lengthy lay-up, she was sold to MBRS Lines (Manila-Banton-Romblon-San Agustin Shipping Lines) and renamed Mary the Queen. She sailed from Liverpool to the Philippines, covering 9,700 miles in 37 days.^[1] In Manila, she underwent an internal rebuild, converting her to a night ferry. Externally, the boat deck and bridge wings were covered, and several lifeboats removed.^[1]

On 9 February 2004 on a voyage from San Augustin to Manila she caught fire off Sibuyan Island; the fire was extinguished within an hour.^[1]

Mary the Queen was sold to Indian ship-breakers^[4] and beached at Alang on 1 September 2008.^[1]

Layout

Slightly heavier than her two predecessors, Mona's Queen had accommodation for 1600 passengers, 55 crew, and approximately 100 vehicles. Vehicles were loaded through side doors positioned at various levels on either side of the ship.^[1]

Mona's Queen was powered by two 10-cylinder P.C.2 Crossley Pielstick engines, producing 10,000 brake horsepower. Propulsion was by variable pitch propellers - the first time these had been used in the Isle of Man fleet. These meant she could be controlled from the bridge or engine room, with all engine conditions monitored from a control room within the main engine room.

Service

Mona's Queen gave reliable service to the Isle of Man from 1972 until 1985. After the merger between the Steam Packet Co. and the Manx Line in 1985, Mona's Queen was used mainly during the holiday season or chartered out. In September 1989, she was chartered by Sealink for the services from Portsmouth and Weymouth to Cherbourg.^[1] She was withdrawn from service on 3 September 1990 and laid up at the Victoria South Dock, Birkenhead.^[1]

In the Philippines, as Mary the Queen, she operated in the waters of south-east Asia, mainly sailing between Manila and Boracay.

Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} "Mona's Queen". Ship Stamps. http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=6695&hilit=mona%27s+queen. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Glyn Woods. "Mona's Queen, Fleetwood". http://www.pbase.com/bartonian/image/107982001. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 
3. ^ "Mona's Queen (1972)" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg (Facts about Ships). http://www.faktaomfartyg.nu/monas_queen_1972.htm. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 
4. ^ "S&P Monthly Report" (PDF). N. Cotzias Shipping Group. July 2008. http://www.cotzias.gr/reports/COTZIAS_2008_07_JUL.pdf. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 

External links

• Ian Collard (2006). "Mona's Queen In Exile - On board Mary The Queen at Manila". http://www.irishseashipping.com/photofeatures/worldshipping/marythequeen0106/marythequeen.htm. Retrieved 25 April 2011.